^12 (A)From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,^[a] and the violent take it by force.

^16 (A)“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then ^(B)the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and ^(C)everyone forces his way into it.^[a]

^24 (A)“Strive ^(B)to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

^11 (A)Put on ^(B)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ^(C)the schemes of the devil. ¹² For ^(D)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(E)the rulers, against the authorities, against ^(F)the cosmic powers over ^(G)this present darkness, against ^(H)the spiritual forces of evil ^(I)in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore ^(J)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^(K)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Lights in the World

¹² Therefore, my beloved, ^(A)as you have always ^(B)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

^23 (A)And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him ^(B)as he was teaching, and said, ^(C)“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴ Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, ^(D)from where did it come? ^(E)From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ^(F)‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From man,’ ^(G)we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was ^(H)a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

^28 (I)“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in ^(J)the vineyard today.’ ²⁹ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he ^(K)changed his mind and went. ³⁰ And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, ^(L)the tax collectors and ^(M)the prostitutes go into ^(N)the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you ^(O)in the way of righteousness, and ^(P)you did not believe him, but ^(Q)the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward ^(R)change your minds and believe him.

^27 (A)Do not work for the food that perishes, but for ^(B)the food that endures to eternal life, which ^(C)the Son of Man will give to you. For on ^(D)him God the Father has ^(E)set his seal.”

²⁹ (^(A)When all the people heard this, and ^(B)the tax collectors too, they declared God just,^{[a] (C)}having been baptized with ^(D)the baptism of John, ^30 (E)but the Pharisees and ^(F)the lawyers ^(G)rejected ^(H)the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)